Fire-extinguisher



G. T; PEAR'soNs.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLlc/mon FILED nov. 21. 1916.

1,378,609, Patented May 17, 1921.

2 SHEETS--SHEET l.

WITNESS UWE/WOR .A TTOHNEY PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. PEARSONS, OF NEW YORK, N.' Y.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedY May 17, 1921.

Application filed November 27, 1916. SerialNo. 133,521.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PnAnsoNs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, inthe city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers ofthe type in which a fire extinguishing liquid contained in a reservoir is discharged therefrom by a gas pressure generated in the reservoir by the reaction of the admixing of gas generating materials normally maintained in a separated condition in a generator in the reservoir; and it is the primary object of the invention to improve the general construction of lire extinguishers of this type to cheapen the cost of construction and increase the efficiency thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extinguisher of this type in which the gas generator is started, or the gas generating materials mix, by inverting the extinguisher. l

It is a further object oi. the invention to provide an improved generator adapted to be removably mounted in the reservoir whereby the generator may be removed from the reservoir for the purpose of re-charg` ing, cleaning or the substitution of another generator. i

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved gas generator in which provision is made to carry means through which the generated gas passes before 1t 1s expelled into the reservoir to render the gas dry and non-acid.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved discharging means to'at all times connect the -discharge outlet with the liquid in the lowermost part of the reservoir in all positions of the extinguisher.

Other objects and advantages willfhereinaiter appear,

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of aA fire extinguisher with an embodiment of my invention applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the extinguisher in inverted position. n

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawing there is provided a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquid, such as carbon tetrachlorid, said reservoir preferE ably comprising a body portion 3 closed at the bottom, as at 4, and constructed to form a standard for the extinguisher, and the upper end being open and adapted to be closed by a removable cover 5. VThe cover has an opening centrally thereof to consti-- tute the discharge outlet of the reservoir with a spring iniiuenced, inwardly closing and outwardly opening, check valve 6 therein, said outlet having an extension 7 to the side of the reservoir with a manually operablevalve 8 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The re extinguishing liquid is expelled from the reservoir by a suitable agent or gas, such as carbonio acid gas, generated by means within the reservoir. For this purpose I provide a gas generator comprising a receptacle 9 open at one end and having an outlet in the closed end with a tube 10 secured in the outlet extending into the receptacle, the bore of the tube constituting a continuation of the outlet and having lateral ports 11. A second receptacle 12 having one end open, which is in the nature of a cover, is adapted to. have telescoping connection over the open end of the receptacle 9 and the open end cooperating with a ilange 13 at the bottom of the receptacle 9 to provide an entirely closed receptacle. Engaging in the first receptacle is a third receptacle 14 having an open end of less diameter than thev receptacle 9 to provide a space be-` tween the walls of said receptacles, said third receptacle being supported upon the outlet tube 10 and thereby providing a space between the bottoms of the two receptacles. This receptacle is adapted to contain one of the gas generating materials, such as bicarbonate of soda, and carries another receptacle 15 in the form of a glass bottle having another gas generating material, such as sulfuric or hydrochloric acid, free from the other gas generating material in the normal position of the extinguisher. The bottle 15 is closed by a stopper 16 having an outlet tube or tubes 17 and a projection 18 to engage with the end of the receptacle 12 to maintain the bottle within the third receptacle andthe latter in position against the outlet tube 10.

The lire extinguishingliquid is of such a nature that it will not injure articles,such as wearing apparel, furniture, carpets or the like with whichit might come in contact, while the nature of the gas generating materials is such as to destroy and ruin any such articles with which it may come in contact, and it etten happens that part of the latter materials are carried off with the generated gas into the reservoir` and expelled with the fire extinguishing liquid with the above deleterious results. To prevent this contingency, means are provided to render the generated gas anhydrous or dry and non-acid, by iltering the generated gas. For this purpose there is provided a material through which the generated. gas passes to absorb any moisture in such gas, sodium carbonate having been found to answer this purpose. rlhis absorbing inaterial is located in the space between the bottoms of the receptacles 9 and 12.

As stated, in this type ot extinguisher the generator is started by inverting the extinguisher, and by inverting the extinguis ier the acid will liow from the receptacle 15 onto the soda, the reaction or gas passing up around the receptacle 14C and through the filtering material through the lateral ports in the tube 10 into the reservoir.

The generator is carried in the reservoir in a tubular carrier 27, shown as a tubular member secured. cent-rally to the bottom ot the reservoir for a purpose to be hereinafter described, and the generator being an integral unit, it may be removed for the'purpose of recharging, cleaning or the substitution of another generator. The receptacles 9, 12 and 14. as well as the outlet'tube 10 of the generator, are preferably leadcoated to prevent corrosion by the fire extinguishing liquid or the gas generating materials.

A tube 28 is secured in the discharge out* let of the cover, the bore of said tube constituting a continuation of the discharge outlet. One end of the tube is closed and the tube extends into the reservoir to engage with the top of the generator when the cover is secured in place to retain the generator in the cage. v

To connect the discharge outlet with the liquid in the lowermost part of the reservoir 1n all positions olf the extinguisher, a tube 29 extending longitudinally ot the reservoir with its ends adjacent the side and opposite ends ot the reservoir 1s 4rotatably mounted upon the tube 28 by a coupling 80, and the tube 29 communicates through the coupling with the tube 28 through lateral ports 31 in said latter tube. i

To shut oit communication between one end or" the tube 29 and the discharge outlet when the extinguisher is in an upright position when the generator has been set ott to expel the liquid from the reservoir through the lower end of the tube and prevent the gas from being expelled to the atmosphere, a valve 3Q is provided to cooperate with a seat connected to or formed at the end of theV tube 29, and when the extinguisher is in inverted position a valve 33 cooperates with a seat at the opposite end of the tube 2Q. These valves are carried at the ends'of a rod 34:, whereby when one valve is seated it will operate to unseat the other valve.

In operation the charged generator is placed in the cage 17 when the fire ext-inguishing liquid is supplied to the reservoir and the cover with the intake tube 29 Jfor the discharge outlet is secured in place, the end of the tube 28 extending into the reservoir to a point adjacent the top of the generator and operating to retain the generator in its carrier or cage, the manually operable valve being inopen position and the outlet closed by the valve 6. To use the extinguisher it is inverted when the acid will flow from the bottle 15 onto the soda, the generated gas passing between the walls oi the receptacles 9 and 14 through the liltering material in the chamber 9 below the receptacle 14, and through the lateral ports in the tube 10 into the reservoir where its force is exerted on the liquid to discharge the same. In this position of the extinguisher the inlet to the intake 29 uppermost is closed by the valve 33 while the valve 32 will be maintained open due to the connection thereof to the rod 34. the liquid passing up throughthe tube 29 through the coupling 30 through the lateral ports in the tube 2S unseating the valve 6 and out through the outlet extension 7. It will be obvious that should the extinguisher be placed in an upright position that the liq-` uid will be forced through the Vend of the intake tube 29 opposite to that through which it flows when the extinguisher is in an inverted position. Furthermore, no Inatter in what position the extinguisher may be placed horizontally the intake tube 29 will at all times assume a position in the lowermost part of the liquid. Should the extinguisher be set in operation and it is desired not to ,expel all of the liquid the manually opera-ble valve S is closed and by slightly rotating or unscrewing the cover a port 35 in said cover will connect the interior of the reservoir to the atmosphere and permit of the escape of the generated gas through said port.

By the provision of the tube 10 in the generator Vand as the charge generator, which is in the nature of a cartridge, is placedin its carrier in the reservoir the air in said tube will prevent any of the tire extinguishing liquid entering the generator through said outlet and thereby providing'an extinguisher in which the vgenerator is hermetically sealed by the fire extinguishing liquid and prevent anyV deterioration of the gas generating materials, To prevent endwise movement of the tube supporting coupling 30 on the tube 28 the latter is provided With abutments or collars 36 at opposite ends of the coupling, and the coupling has a counterbore in opposite ends for the engagement of a :telt Washer 37 to seal thecoupling on the tube 28.

I-Iaving thus described my invention l claim:

y 1. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir open at the top and having a removable cover therefor With a discharge outlet for the reservoir; a gas generator; a cage in the bottom of the reservoir in which the generator is removably carried to maintain the generator centrally of the reservoir; and an abutment carried by the cover to engage with they generator to maintain it in the cage, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a iire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir open at the top and having a removable cover therefor with a discharge outlet for the reservoir; a gas generator; a cage in the bottom of the reservoir in vvhich the generatoris removably carried to maintain the generator centrally of the reservoir; and means connected to the outlet in the cover adapted to automatically position an inlet tothe outlet in the portion of the reservoir Which is loWermost and arranged to retain the generator in the carrier.

3. In a lire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir having an opening in the top; a removable cover for said opening having a discharge outlet therein for the reservoir; a cage secured centrally to the bottom; a gas generator adapted to be carried Within said cage, having an outlet leading into the reservoir; a tube connected to the discharge outlet of the cover to extend into the reservoir with its end closed and adapted toabut against the generator to maintain the generator in the cage, the bore of said tube constituting a continuation of the discharge outlet and having lateral ports; and means to connect said tube With the liquid in the lowermost part of the reservoir in all positions of the extinguisher, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

4l. In a lire extinguisher, the combination or' a reservoir having an opening in the top; a removable cover for said opening having a discharge outlet therein for the reservoir; a cage secured centrally to the bottom; a gas generator adapted to be carried Within said cage, having an outlet leading into the reservoir; a tube connected to the discharge outlet of the cover to extend into the reservoir, with its end closed and adapted to abut against the generator to maintain the generator in the cage, the bore of said tube constituting a continuation of the discharge outlet and having lateral ports; and a valved inlet to said tube adapted to automatically position itself near the end and side of the reservoir Which is lowermost and clear the generator in all positions thereof.

5. In a life extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir having an opening in the top; a removable cover for said opening having a discharge outlet therein for the reservoir; a cage secured centrally to the bottom; a gas generator adapted to be carried within said cage, having an outlet leading into the reservoir; said generator having means to normally maintain gas generating materials in a separated condition When in an upright position and permitting said materials to mix When the generator is in an inverted position; a tube connected to the discharge `outlet in the cover to extend into the reservoir With its inner end closed and abuttting against the generator to maintain the generator in the cage when the generator is inverted; an inlet valve mechanism connected to said tube adapted to automatically position an inlet in the lower portion of the reservoir vvith said inlet open in any position of the reservoir and providing a continuous and unobstructed passage from said inlet to the outlet tube.

6. In a fire extinguisher the combination of a reservoir to contain a lire extinguishing liquid and having an outlet; and a generator to be placed in the liquid in the reservoir having an outlet and means to carry gas generating materials in a separatedcondition therein in the normal position thereof, and said generator having means to seal the outlet when the generator is placed in the reservoir by the liquidin the reservoir, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a tire extinguisher, a reservoir to contain carbon tetrachlorid and normally not under pressure; a discharge outlet for said reservoir; and a receptacle to be immersed in the carbon tetrachlorid in said reservoir having an outlet open to the carbon tetrachlorid and arranged to carry bicarbonate of soda and an acid in a separated condition and open to each other in the upright and normal inoperative position of the extinguisher, and said soda and acid adapted to mix when the extinguisher is inverted, the generated gas passing through the receptacle outlet into thereservoir to place the carbon tetrachlorid under uid pressure to expel the carbon tetrachlorid from the reservoir.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York November, 191e.

GEO. T. PEARSONS. 

